SAPRP began in 2006 during mental health reform. The Henderson County community saw that several mental health programs were going to close if the community didn't support them. Most people are familiar with our Clubhouse program, which has served Henderson County for over 29 years.

The political climate continues to change and cut funding for mental health care. We have had to reorganize and make significant changes to continue to provide quality services. We spent the last year in strategic planning with our stakeholders, staff, board members and client members. We have developed a three-year strategic plan that includes re-branding.

We are no longer located on Sixth Avenue, and we felt that a new name would better represent what we do on a daily basis. We are now doing business as Thrive, moving people from surviving to thriving. At Thrive, we focus on assisting individuals who are experiencing mental health symptoms get back on their feet. Our programs provide opportunities to learn coping, social, independent living and vocational skills.

We assist in obtaining jobs and giving back to the community. We move people from surviving a mental illness or a difficult time in their life to thriving in their community.

What are your duties as executive director?

Wow, my daily duties range from supervising staff and talking with local community leaders about the importance of mental health funding, to taking wellness walks with our members. I am blessed to have 17 wonderful staff members who are passionate about providing the best possible care to everyone they meet. While my main responsibility is to run the agency and to take care of the big picture, I greatly enjoy being able to stay connected to the individuals we assist through conversations.

How did you get into the mental health field?

A majority of my family work in “helping” professions. My grandfather was on the Henderson County Rescue Squad, my mom is a nurse, and my aunt, two uncles and husband are all in law enforcement, so helping others is natural. I know I am blessed, and I want to bless others by empowering them to have lives of purpose and health.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Seeing others achieve their goals is the absolute best part of my daily life. Often when a mental health crisis occurs, people lose all hope that they will ever achieve their goals. It is so rewarding to see someone celebrate years of being out of the hospital, or graduating from their literacy or GED classes, or succeeding at their first employment experience, or achieving sobriety.

When someone tells me how their life has changed because of the opportunities that we are able to provide, it makes everything worthwhile.

Any exciting news for Thrive?

While I have been the executive director for less than a year and a half, we have had constant exciting news. We are blessed to have partnered with The Community Foundation of WNC and The Community Foundation of Henderson County on our strategic planning and re-branding processes. The United Way of Henderson County and Henderson County MOE funding have been instrumental in ensuring that there are quality mental health services available.

Each fall we take a trip to Washington, D.C., to provide opportunities for our staff and members to learn about how the government works and to talk to their elected officials about what is important to them. We are excited that this year, Congressman Mark Meadows and his staff have already agreed to meet with our group and to be available at their local Henderson County office to talk about mental health care.

We have several upcoming events to provide information about our services and to raise support for our cause. On May 30, we are hosting a wine tasting at Burntshirt Vineyards. Tickets are $25. On Oct. 19, we will have our annual signature event, Bids & Blues, at Blue Ridge Community College. This event features a silent auction, beer donated by Sierra Nevada, wine, barbecue and a Blues concert with MacArnold & Plate Full o' Blues. Our local celebrity emcee that night will be Scott Treadway, who is sure to keep the audience entertained.

What is the biggest challenge in mental health within our community?

The biggest challenge is access to quality affordable care.

We do not charge the individual for any of our services. Many individuals who need help are on a limited income and often have to choose between their mental health care and being able to afford groceries, or buy their children school supplies.

Our primary purpose is to provide for their mental health care, but we also do everything in our power to assist them with any of their daily living needs. We collaborate with many local agencies and philanthropists to assist in transportation, medical care, living expenses and medication co-pays.

How can the community help improve mental health in Henderson County?

The community can help by educating themselves on what mental health really is. One in four Americans has a mental illness, and yet we continue to stigmatize and look down on these individuals. What we see in media portrayals is not the true picture of what the average person is dealing with. We shy away from helping those we do not understand, but if we took the time to understand what someone else is experiencing, not only do we help that person by providing support, we are also enriched through the learning process. I speak to groups regularly on how mental health affects families, churches and businesses. I encourage anyone who wants to learn more to contact me.

Do you have your sights set on anything in particular in the upcoming months?

We have several ideas on the horizon.

We would like to explore our ability to provide housing to individuals with mental health needs. We are also growing and will need to begin a capital campaign so that we can build our own facility to accommodate the growing need.

We would like to increase our Transitional Employment Program so that we can provide more employment opportunities for our members.

<p>Age: 32 Residence: Flat Rock Family: Husband; a Sheltie and a dachshund. Website: www.sixth-avenue.org; phone: 828-697-4492 You are executive director for Sixth Avenue Psychiatric Rehabilitation Partners. What is Sixth Avenue? </p><p>SAPRP began in 2006 during mental health reform. The Henderson County community saw that several mental health programs were going to close if the community didn't support them. Most people are familiar with our Clubhouse program, which has served Henderson County for over 29 years.</p><p>The political climate continues to change and cut funding for mental health care. We have had to reorganize and make significant changes to continue to provide quality services. We spent the last year in strategic planning with our stakeholders, staff, board members and client members. We have developed a three-year strategic plan that includes re-branding.</p><p>We are no longer located on Sixth Avenue, and we felt that a new name would better represent what we do on a daily basis. We are now doing business as Thrive, moving people from surviving to thriving. At Thrive, we focus on assisting individuals who are experiencing mental health symptoms get back on their feet. Our programs provide opportunities to learn coping, social, independent living and vocational skills.</p><p>We assist in obtaining jobs and giving back to the community. We move people from surviving a mental illness or a difficult time in their life to thriving in their community.</p><p>What are your duties as executive director? </p><p>Wow, my daily duties range from supervising staff and talking with local community leaders about the importance of mental health funding, to taking wellness walks with our members. I am blessed to have 17 wonderful staff members who are passionate about providing the best possible care to everyone they meet. While my main responsibility is to run the agency and to take care of the big picture, I greatly enjoy being able to stay connected to the individuals we assist through conversations.</p><p>How did you get into the mental health field? </p><p>A majority of my family work in “helping” professions. My grandfather was on the Henderson County Rescue Squad, my mom is a nurse, and my aunt, two uncles and husband are all in law enforcement, so helping others is natural. I know I am blessed, and I want to bless others by empowering them to have lives of purpose and health.</p><p>What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? </p><p>Seeing others achieve their goals is the absolute best part of my daily life. Often when a mental health crisis occurs, people lose all hope that they will ever achieve their goals. It is so rewarding to see someone celebrate years of being out of the hospital, or graduating from their literacy or GED classes, or succeeding at their first employment experience, or achieving sobriety.</p><p>When someone tells me how their life has changed because of the opportunities that we are able to provide, it makes everything worthwhile.</p><p>Any exciting news for Thrive? </p><p>While I have been the executive director for less than a year and a half, we have had constant exciting news. We are blessed to have partnered with The Community Foundation of WNC and The Community Foundation of Henderson County on our strategic planning and re-branding processes. The United Way of Henderson County and Henderson County MOE funding have been instrumental in ensuring that there are quality mental health services available.</p><p>Each fall we take a trip to Washington, D.C., to provide opportunities for our staff and members to learn about how the government works and to talk to their elected officials about what is important to them. We are excited that this year, Congressman Mark Meadows and his staff have already agreed to meet with our group and to be available at their local Henderson County office to talk about mental health care.</p><p>We have several upcoming events to provide information about our services and to raise support for our cause. On May 30, we are hosting a wine tasting at Burntshirt Vineyards. Tickets are $25. On Oct. 19, we will have our annual signature event, Bids & Blues, at Blue Ridge Community College. This event features a silent auction, beer donated by Sierra Nevada, wine, barbecue and a Blues concert with MacArnold & Plate Full o' Blues. Our local celebrity emcee that night will be Scott Treadway, who is sure to keep the audience entertained.</p><p>What is the biggest challenge in mental health within our community?</p><p>The biggest challenge is access to quality affordable care.</p><p>We do not charge the individual for any of our services. Many individuals who need help are on a limited income and often have to choose between their mental health care and being able to afford groceries, or buy their children school supplies. </p><p>Our primary purpose is to provide for their mental health care, but we also do everything in our power to assist them with any of their daily living needs. We collaborate with many local agencies and philanthropists to assist in transportation, medical care, living expenses and medication co-pays. </p><p>How can the community help improve mental health in Henderson County? </p><p>The community can help by educating themselves on what mental health really is. One in four Americans has a mental illness, and yet we continue to stigmatize and look down on these individuals. What we see in media portrayals is not the true picture of what the average person is dealing with. We shy away from helping those we do not understand, but if we took the time to understand what someone else is experiencing, not only do we help that person by providing support, we are also enriched through the learning process. I speak to groups regularly on how mental health affects families, churches and businesses. I encourage anyone who wants to learn more to contact me. </p><p>Do you have your sights set on anything in particular in the upcoming months? </p><p>We have several ideas on the horizon. </p><p>We would like to explore our ability to provide housing to individuals with mental health needs. We are also growing and will need to begin a capital campaign so that we can build our own facility to accommodate the growing need. </p><p>We would like to increase our Transitional Employment Program so that we can provide more employment opportunities for our members.</p>